HP Mini 5101 takes netbooks to the next level

Aluminium casing and SSD options make this no ordinary netbook

24 June 2009 5:43 GMT / By Stuart Miles

HP has announced the launch of what it calls a "top-of-the-line" mini PC for "on-the-go" professionals.

Called the HP Mini 5101, the new 10-inch netbook will be housed in a lightweight anodized aluminium display enclosure with a black, brushed finish and come with a spill-resistant keyboard that is 95% of a full-size QWERTY keyboard.

Hoping to appeal to netbook users looking for a bit more class, the Mini 5101 will feature Apple MacBook-style "DuraKeys" with a clear coating over the keys that makes the keyboard 50 times more resistant to visible wear than keyboards without it, says HP.

In what must in response to feedback from its users and reviewers, the company has also moved the mouse buttons back underneath the touchpad, "making for a familiar user experience".

On the spec side you get an Intel Atom processor, a 7,200 RPM hard drive that comes as standard or the option to upgrade to an 80GB or 128GB solid state drive.

In an attempt to keep mobile workers happy there is also a built-in 3G card option so you can ditch the USB dongle. Elsewhere there is Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi and a 2-megapixel camera for video conferencing.

The HP Mini 5101 will start at $449 in the US and is expected to be available in late July. No word on UK pricing or availability as yet, although expect it to make it over our side of the pond in the coming months.